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Cheney: 'I have the power to declassify' secret info

February 16, 2006 05:15 AM / Bush Leagues .

Vice President Dick Cheney brags that he has the power to declassify government secrets, raising the possibility that he authorized his former chief of staff to pass along sensitive prewar data on Iraq to reporters. And, in usual Cheney style, he makes no apologies for doing so.

Cheney coupled his statement in a TV interview Wednesday with an endorsement of I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, his ex-aide. Libby is under indictment on charges of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI about disclosing the identity of undercover CIA officer Valerie Plame.

"Scooter is entitled to the presumption of innocence," Cheney told Fox News Channel. "He is a great guy. I worked with him for a long time. I have tremendous regard for him. I may well be called as a witness at some point in the case, and it is therefore inappropriate for me to comment on any facet of the case."

In a recent court filing, Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald revealed Libby's assertions to a grand jury that superiors had authorized him to spread sensitive information from a National Intelligence Estimate. The administration used the NIE assessment on Iraq and weapons of mass destruction as part of its justification for going to war.

At the time of Libby's contacts with reporters in June and July 2003, the administration, including Cheney, who was among the war's most ardent proponents, faced growing criticism.

No weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq, and Bush supporters were anxious to show that the White House had relied on prewar intelligence projecting a strong threat from such weapons.

Fitzgerald did not specify which superiors Libby may have been referring to when he testified that higher-ups had authorized him to spread sensitive information.

But in the interview, Cheney said an executive order gives him, and President Bush, power to declassify information.

"I have certainly advocated declassification. I have participated in declassification decisions," Cheney said. Asked for details, he said, "I don't want to get into that. There's an executive order that specifies who has classification authority, and obviously it focuses first and foremost on the president, but also includes the vice president."

Libby is not charged with leaking classified information, and his lawyers said last week that there was no truth to a published report that they had advised the court or prosecutors that Libby will raise a defense based on authorization by superiors.

A legal expert said Cheney's comments could nonetheless foreshadow a Libby defense.

Former Whitewater independent counsel Robert Ray said, "If the focus is off the defendant and on to somebody else, generally for the defense that's a good day. If it turns out that Cheney was actively involved in decisions related to the disclosure of a CIA officer's identity and if the truth of it is that he was orchestrating the disclosure of information to the media, it seems to me that's a fundamentally different case than one centered around the activities of Libby."

The indictment against Libby says Cheney advised his chief of staff on June 12, 2003, that the wife of Bush administration critic and former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Wilson worked at the CIA in the counterproliferation division.

Libby understood that the vice president had learned this information from the CIA, according to the indictment, which says Libby also learned of Wilson's wife's identity from the CIA and the State Department.

On July 14, 2003, the CIA identity of Valerie Plame _ the maiden name of Wilson's wife _ was published by columnist Robert Novak. Eight days earlier, Wilson had accused the administration of twisting prewar intelligence to exaggerate the Iraqi threat. Wilson concluded it was highly doubtful that a purported sale of uranium yellowcake by Niger to Iraq in the late 1990s had ever taken place.

Libby was indicted last October on five counts of perjury, obstruction and lying to the FBI about how he learned of Plame's identity and what he told reporters about it.

A defense that Libby was authorized to leak sensitive data about Iraq would not appear to provide any defense against the charge of making false statements regarding Plame.

But some lawyers pointed out that setting up defenses before a jury involve more than simply constructing legal arguments.

An authorization defense in the CIA leak case would mean that "much of what Libby was trying to do was aid and protect his boss Cheney," Ray suggested. The downside to employing such an approach is that it "almost comes with a defense that I did it."

Comments

WOW !!

Sounds like a real POWER STRUGGLE at the top...THE TOP TWO FIGURES.

I believe that anyone with even half a brain has realized, or certainly should have realized for the last many years that CHENEY is the REAL PRESIDENT of the United States and BUSH has simply got the title....AND THAT IS ALL HE EVER WANTED ANYWAY

Everything Bush does or says suggests exactly that from his days of privilige as a kid to school and college to business to the presidency. It's always been someone else to do the manual labor, the thinking, the doing and the acting and as well their job to clean up the mess that those same people could not fathom might have been coming.

Bush seems very comfortable with that and it would also explain very well his temper and attitude now that he has "the power" of the top job, even if in name only.

So Cheney believes by a heretofore unknown executive order (YET OTHER ONE) that HE has the power....right along with BUSH. Well, I have no doubt that there might be (OR SOON WILL BE IF NEEDED) an executive order to that effect.

But I then have to ask myself this.

If Fitzgerald KNEW this going in, did he then forget an indictment, or possibly even indict the wrong person.

The first seems to be the case.

If information the VP says he has the "POWER" to de-classify is in fact the case, then do we all, all citizens of the United States then have the right to, the access to, that declassified information by making a simple FOI request?

I would think so. Opinions anyone ? !!

Posted by TRUTH 101 at February 16, 2006 09:10 AM

With other two branches of government complicit with Executive branch, Cheney does have ANY power that he declares himself to have.

This is the greatness of the Corporate Theocratic system that has replaced the old Constitutional system with OUR consent and complicity.

Posted by mr. x at February 16, 2006 11:07 AM

TO Truth 101---Yes. "We the people," are to have access to everything! It is the members of government that keeps the public apart from their responsibility of acting accordingly. For without "The Truth" being transparent, one cannot be expected to handle matters correctly. And in line of all government administrations, it is their full intent to keep the public in blind passages.

Why? So we don’t do the following, . . .

Here we go, . . . We'll announce and take action, . . .
BASED ON THE FACT FINDINGS, YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION HAVE COMMITTED TREASON AGAINST HUMANITY. THEREBY, PRESIDENT BUSH, YOU AND YOUR ADMINISTRATION ARE HEREBY RELEASED OF OFFICIAL DUTIES AS OF IMMEDIATELY, FEBRUARY 16, 2006.
SIGNED, THE REAL AMERICAN SOCIETY

Treason is "a violation of allegiance by a subject against his sovereign or government".
A democratic government is held to be "government of the people, by the people and for the people".

Posted by at February 16, 2006 01:24 PM

The Veep does have such power and it was given to him by Presidential Directive that was signed by Mr. Bush. By the way Mr. X seems to have the same comments, word for word, for all the forums here.

Posted by Dave at February 16, 2006 05:43 PM

It appears as though Dave has been reading all the C.H.B. forums, . . . Dave, where is your loyalty to your political party? You need to get a life if all you do is read forums. For someone to take notice of how often comments are written in ibedim form, and then write about it, belongs to 'the right wing' tip.

Posted by at February 16, 2006 07:22 PM

Hey Dave, if you have any complaints about "Mr.X," bring them to the 5th floor at the Department of Justice. Maybe there you'll find some comfort and relief.

Posted by at February 16, 2006 07:45 PM

WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR CHENEY TO REPORT HIS SHOOTING OF WHITTINGTON? PERHAPS CHENEY NEEDED TO GET "A STORY" TOGETHER.

But yet, Cheney still contradicts himself. He first tells Britt Hume on Faux 5 that he knew Whittington for about 30 years and he is a "good friend." Then when Britt Hume's gives question to Cheney, is Whittington a close friend, or friendly acquaintance, Cheney answers, "No, an acquaintance." DA! Which way is the wind flying this bird turd today?

In answer to Britt Hume's question, . . . "Mr. Vice President, how is Mr. Whittington?" "Well, the good news is he's doing very well today. I talked to him yesterday after they discovered the heart problem, but it appears now to have been pretty well resolved and the reporting today is very good."

Cheney stated this comment on 2/15/06, when doctors already released information to the public stating there is a pellet yet remaining in Whittington's heart that they are not removing. We question, . . . Does this sound as though the heart problem has been "pretty well resolved," as V.P. Cheney describes it?

Britt Hume questioned Cheney, . . . "What was he wearing?" "He was dressed in orange, he was dressed properly, but he was also . . . There was a little bit of a gully there, so he was down a little ways before land level, although I could see the upper part of his body when . . . I didn't see it at the time I shot, until after I'd fired. And the sun was directly behind him — that affected the vision, too, I'm sure."

We question, . . . When someone gets shot, don't they usually in an immediate formation, fall or tip? If so, how could Cheney clearly see Whittington "after shooting him, but not before shooting him?" If the sun affected Cheney's shooting, then why did Cheney shoot? An experienced hunter of any nature would first look to get a clear shot of the target before pulling the trigger. NONE of Cheney's explanation derives to make any sense. And why is Cheney giving his description of the shooting to Britt Hume and not to the detectives who should be investigating all witnesses and the true events of the shooting?

"But he was also" what V.P. Cheney? Oh don't bother answering. The truth won't be given away.

In regards to the remaining interview with Britt Hume and V.P. Dick Cheney, we'll leave the reading to the Bush administration. They enjoy fairytales.

Posted by at February 16, 2006 08:53 PM

The Executive Order being offered as a defense for Libby is 13292.

It appears that EO 13292 was itself violated, since the stated declassification procedures were not followed.

In addition to being irrelevant, because the procedures were not followed, Cheney may have placed his tit in the wringer by ratting himself out.

Posted by Arlo at February 17, 2006 03:16 AM

"Bush and Cheney, the voice of Treason"

Posted by at February 17, 2006 01:58 PM

An e-mail excerpt from Senator Harry Reid (NV-D), . . . (2/17/06)

"Wired and Retired will create an online social network of seniors aggressively addressing the issues important to helping you enjoy retirement."

An American citizen's response to Senator Reid's composed e-mail, . . .

To the Honorable Senator Harry Reid,

Dear Sir, speaking for myself, I thank my Lord Jesus Christ, that I have not become "Wired nor Retired." To the dismay of the children of God, there are millions of people who have been deceived in becoming "Wired and Tired," including many members within the UNdemocratic and UNrepublic system.

In fuller response to your latest e-mail addressed to the public, we are fortunate to know what is spoken in truth and what is given as food for deceit.

Senator Reid, not once in time of recollection, did you publicly introduce your organization named by, Searchlight. This part of your social life has now been disclosed to the public based on the current developments with Mr. Jack Abramoff. We are sure the current news headlines have not been pleasant for you and the many others involved with Mr. Abramoff. Not to consider anyone in the government as an enemy, the fact remains, God will bring down ALL unrighteousness, with no skipping of record of any sort.

Senator Reid, speaking as a private student of many interests, there is a FULL awareness to the current actions of those who do not follow the good word of truth. There will be no remaining untold secrets, such as one as this, . . . Those who fail to obey the simple calling unto the act of righteousness will not escape the consequences to their actions. As President Bush may be the son of perdition, President Bush stands not alone, . . . President Bush has an extended family, and many siblings, and they reside in many houses.

Does this letter bring confusion to you sir? Does this letter bring fear to you sir? Does this letter bring anger to you sir? Does this letter bring frustration to you sir? Perhaps now comprehension has been granted you to understand what a corrupt government brings to the homes of the countless innocent people.

Those in command and assistance in the line of government have confused themselves by tangling with the spirit of, . . . "Conflict of Interest." There is no one or single-minded individual amongst the American state and federal government ship. Therefore, . . . America will never cease from being in the company of confusion and dysfunction. One may imagine, if an American citizen bears great reproach for the current condition of America and its people, how mightily a bitter taste can be found in the glands of those who are not a native American? The American government has been tricked, and has been fooled by outsiders, and has been deceived by their own greed of heart.

Is there any hope to offer this world? Yes! But it isn't found in man. HOPE IS ONLY ESTABLISHED BEING ESTIMABLE THROUGH THE SAVING GRACE OF TRUTH.

Will the members of society ever find favorable growth amongst the vines of LIFE? Yes, only if they reach out to it, and learn how to preserve it.

Senator Reid, America is in "Detrimental Harms Way." Word of wisdom, rather than looking outside the window, it would be suggested to clean thy own house first.

Signed: In true concern-

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Posted by keen shoes at March 31, 2006 09:15 AM

Cheney: 'I have the power to declassify' secret info

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